I don’t know about you but there are days when I just absolutely need something chocolatey. If you’ve been around this recipe blog for a while you may have noticed that, more often than not, this also involves peanut butter. This recipe for no bake peanut butter oat bars checks all of those boxes and then some!
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This no bake peanut butter oat bar recipe is healthy-ish, and a great option for kids and adults who are looking for a chocolate treat without all of the extras that come in a candy bar or snack cake.
Jump to RecipeHow to Make No Bake Peanut Butter Oat Bars
I am often a fan of using what you have on hand for a recipe. This recipe is no exception to that. You can use quick oats or old-fashioned oats depending on what you have on hand. Old-fashioned oats will work a little bit better, and I definitely recommend using them if you have them on hand, but I’ve had success with both.
As always I recommend sticking to natural peanut butter. There’s just too much added sugar and other “undesirables” in traditional peanut butter. Once you get used to using a brand of natural peanut butter the other stuff just won’t taste as good, I promise!
3 Tbsp coconut oil
1/2 tsp vanilla extract ( I prefer to use this one for baking )
2 1/2 C old fashioned oats
2 C milk chocolate chips ( you can use cacao nibs if you prefer )
Combine 1 1/2 C of the peanut butter, the vanilla, and the coconut oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir until the peanut butter and coconut oil has melted completely and your mixture has a smooth consistency.
Add the oats to the melted peanut butter mixture and stir until everything is completely combined.
Spoon the mixture into an 8 x 8 -inch parchment paper-lined baking pan and use a spatula to flatten it down into the pan until you have a smooth, even surface along the top.
Immediately pour the chocolate chips over the top of the oat and peanut butter mixture. The heat of the peanut butter mixture should melt the chocolate chips. If it doesn’t you can throw it in a 350-degree oven for a few minutes to help it melt. Use a spatula to smooth the melted chocolate over the top of the peanut butter mixture.
Set the pan in the fridge to chill for about 20 – 30 minutes to an hour to let the chocolate harden. Once you are sure the chocolate has hardened you want to melt the remaining peanut butter in the microwave for about 30 to 45 seconds and then drizzle it over the top of the hardened chocolate top. You can do a fun pattern or just let it go where it falls.
Then put the whole thing back into the fridge to completely set up for another 30 minutes to an hour. Once it has chilled and everything is set you can remove the whole thing from the pan using the parchment paper and then use a large knife to cut it into squares.
How to store No-Bake Peanut Butter Oat Bars
I absolutely recommend storing this recipe for no-bake peanut butter oat bars in the fridge, but it’s not absolutely necessary. I find that keeping them on the counter tends to end up in melted chocolate and not a very pleasant eating experience in the warm Arkansas climate.
As long as you have them in an airtight container they should store well for about a week. You can freeze this recipe well for about a month. I would recommend separating them individually with parchment paper before freezing though.
No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp coconut oil
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 2 C natural peanut butter
- 2½ C old fashioned rolled oats
- 2 C milk chocolate chips
Instructions
- Combine 1½ C of the peanut butter, the vanilla, and the coconut oil in a saucepan over low heat. Stir until both have melted and the mixture has a smooth texture.
- Add the old-fashioned oats to the melted peanut butter mixture and stir until it is completely combined.
- Spoon the mixture into an 8 x 8 inch parchment paper-lined pan. Use the back of a wooden spoon to press the mixture down into the pan so that you have a solid square of oats.
- Immediately add the chocolate chips on top of the oat mixture and use a spatula to smooth it over the top as it slowly melts. If you find that the oat mixture isn't hot enough to melt the chocolate chips you can pop the whole thing into a 350° F. oven for 2-3 minutes.
- Put the whole thing in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes or until the chocolate has hardened.
- Melt the remaining ½ C of peanut butter in the microwave for 20 seconds and stir until smooth. Drizzle the melted peanut butter over the top of the chocolate.
- Chill in the refrigerator another 30-45 minutes or until the entire thing has cooled and the peanut butter and chocolate have both set.
